Originally all coffee was shade grown, produced under the tropical canopy of native rainforest trees.  In the 1970's sun grown coffee entered the marketplace, clearing off acres of land to pack coffee into rows that now required the use of chemicals and pesticides. These sun-drenched farms produced more beans, but at an environmental and economic cost. These sun coffee farms foster little habitat for wildlife while accelerating soil erosion. These new farms also put more coffee beans into the already overstocked coffee market while converting self-sustaining polycyultural coffee farms and sanctuaries into the monocultures, resulting in disappearing wildlife.

Fifty acres of rainforest disappear every minute, and 2 dozen species become extinct every day.

In 1993 The Rainforest Alliance demonstrated that the traditional shade-grown coffee farms served as wildlife sanctuaries, and the first coffee farms were rainforest certified in 1995. Guatemala was the first to produce Rainforest Alliance certified coffee in 1996.

What is the Rainforest Alliance?

The Rainforest Alliance is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization based in New York. Its mission is to conserve biodiversity by promoting sustainability in agriculture, forestry, tourism, and other businesses. The Rainforest Alliance certifies coffee, as well as other products and services, when it is produced under certain standards.

The goal of the Rainforest Alliance standards is to protect the environment and the rights of workers. The basic guidelines are called the Sustainable Agriculture Standard, and additional specific rules apply to coffee producers.  Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee carries the frog seal shown here.

What are the Rainforest Alliance environmental standards?

Coffee farms must maintain (or restore) natural forest cover to 40% shade coverage. To meet this standard, farms must have at least 70 trees for every 2.5 acres and at least 12 native species. Farms that do not meet this standard can still be certified if they can provide a plan to meet this goal and are making progress toward the goal.

Farmers are not allowed to alter natural water courses. Although some chemical use, such as pesticides, is allowed, coffee farmers must maintain buffer zones of natural vegetation between crop areas and any areas used by people – roads, for example.

Rainforest Alliance standards also prohibit  activities such as trafficking in wild animals, destroying ecosystems, and dumping untreated wastewater.

What are the Rainforest Alliance Labor standards?

These standards try to limit child labor. Children under the age of15 cannot be hired, and minors are not supposed to lift more than 20% of their body weight or have to work on steep slopes or in dangerous areas. They should be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Farmers are expected to take steps to allow minors to continue their education.

Farmers must have non-discriminatory hiring practices and must pay legal minimum wages.

Benefits

Coffee bearing the Rainforest Alliance Certified seal is produced using farming methods that are good for both the people and the planet. This means coffee lovers everywhere can support farmers who maintain these rainforest habitats by buying coffee stamped with Rainforest Alliance seal of approval

1.       Rainforest Alliance certified coffee preserves wildlife.

2.       Rainforest Alliance certified coffee is from farms that treat workers well, provide access to education, and benefit the community.

3.       Although Rainforest Alliance certified coffee is not necessarily organic, these certified coffee farmers do not use agrochemicals prohibited by the US EPA or the EU.

4.       Rainforest Alliance certified coffee beans mature more slowly in the shade, increasing the natural sugars which enhance the taste of coffee.  These natural sugars caramelize in the roasting process, resulting in a sweet, more flavorful cup of coffee.

All of the coffee available through My Perfect Coffee is shade-grown, and our Colombian coffee is USDA organic and Rainforest Alliance certified.

Our Nicaraguan coffee is also Rainforest Alliance certified….

So…

Follow the frog as you choose your coffee.